Why are humans and other catarrhine primates unique in lacking alpha-gal?
In short: This video explores the evolutionary mystery of alpha-gal, a sugar molecule found in most mammals but notably absent in humans, apes, and monkeys of Africa and Asia. Understanding this biological gap reveals how our lineage diverged from other mammals.
The catarrhine primates—a group comprising African and Asian monkeys, apes, and humans—are the only mammals that do not possess alpha-gal. This specific absence marks a distinct biological boundary between our lineage and the rest of the mammalian world.
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